Hogan’s head lobbyist eyes seat on Md. Court of Appeals

Gov. Larry Hogan’s lead lobbyist is angling for a new job — as a judge on Maryland’s Court of Appeals.

Joseph M. Getty, an ardent supporter of Hogan throughout the 2014 campaign and a former state senator and delegate, is among nine judges and attorneys who have applied to fill the Third Appellate Judicial Circuit seat that covers Western Maryland, Frederick, Howard and Carroll counties currently held by Judge Lynne A. Battaglia.

Battaglia turns 70 on April 14 and is required by the Maryland Constitution to retire. Getty shares a birthday with Battaglia and will be 64 next month.

Getty, an attorney who has served on the House Judiciary and Senate Judicial Proceedings committees, confirmed Friday that he had submitted his name for consideration.

The applicants are screened by the Appellate Judicial Nominating Commission, which is expected to forward names to Hogan by the end of April. If fewer than three names are forwarded to the governor, the vacancy is re-advertised. And while the practice over the last four decades has been to appoint a name from that list, the governor is not bound to do so.

The minimum constitutional requirements for the high court are that the applicant be at least 30 years old on the date of their gubernatorial appointment and have lived in Maryland for at least the past five years and in the Third Appellate Judicial Circuit for at least six months prior to his or her appointment.